How user permissions are assessed

Groups do introduce complexities in the permissions of individual users. Suppose user M_Haneef has SELECT and UPDATE permissions on a specific table individually, but is also a member of two groups. Suppose one of these groups has no access to the table at all, and one group has only SELECT access. What are the permissions in effect for this user?

SQL Anywhere decides whether a user ID has permission to perform a specific action in the following manner:

  1. If the user ID has DBA authority, the user ID can perform any action in the database.

  2. Otherwise, permission depends on the permissions assigned to the individual user. If the user ID has been granted permission to perform the action, then the action proceeds.

  3. If no individual settings have been made for that user, permission depends on the permissions of each of the groups to which the member belongs. If any of these groups has permission to perform the action, the user ID has permission by virtue of membership in that group, and the action proceeds.

This approach minimizes problems associated with the order in which permissions are set.